Hayward left Heat meeting thinking Riley's pitch would be 'really tough to beat'
Gordon Hayward was ready to take his talents to South Beach.
The former unrestricted free agent began his open-market tour with a July 1 meeting with the Miami Heat, and left feeling like the team would be a "really, really good fit" for him.
"I think the text I sent to (agent Mark Bartelstein) was, 'Wow, that's going to be really tough to beat,'" Hayward recalled to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on his podcast.
"I asked (my wife) Robyn, and she said something like she could see herself living there and that would be a really great place for us to be. ... It was all positive stuff."
Hayward raved about the city, first-class organization, and family vibe. The father of two wasn't surprised to leave American Airlines Arena immensely impressed with the organization, as Bartelstein warned him ahead of time about Heat president Pat Riley's persuasive ways.
"Mark had tried to tell me, after you talk with him, you're going to be like, 'Mark, I'm ready to sign right now,'" the 27-year-old said. "You do get that vibe from him. He's a great motivator. And we watched some videos, too, of the Heat and their tradition. He definitely makes you feel like you're going to be competing for championships year in and year out."
Riley has a proven track record of success in wooing stars, having convinced LeBron James and Chris Bosh to take a pay cut in 2010 for a chance to contend for titles. The pair teamed up with Dwyane Wade, forming a formidable trio that led Miami to back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
"The Godfather" - who has nine championship rings in total from his time as a player, coach, and exec - emphasized a winning culture in his pitch to Hayward, who set out to latch on with a contender.
"That was the moment where you kind of do get some chills," the All-Star small forward said. "And everyone's wearing their ring, too, everybody on the staff was. And so that's the moment where you're like, 'Wow, that's really cool,' an I-want-to-put-on-the-jersey-right-now type feeling."
In the end, though, the Godfather made Hayward an offer he could - and did - refuse, as the Butler product announced he's leaving the Utah Jazz to join the Boston Celtics. It was a decision his agent described as "gut-wrenching," and one he changed his mind on several times before committing to try to win a title in Beantown.
After striking out in the Hayward sweepstakes, the Heat re-signed James Johnson and Dion Waiters, while also picking up Kelly Olynyk.